HBO RENEWS NEW COMEDY SERIES ENTOURAGE, A LOOK INSIDE HOLLYWOOD’S CELEBRITY SCENE, WITH SECOND SEASON SET FOR NEXT YEAR

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First Season Launched Last Sunday

LOS ANGELES, July 22, 2004 - HBO has renewed the new comedy series ENTOURAGE for a second season, it was announced today by Carolyn Strauss, president, HBO Entertainment. A look at the life of a young star and his buddies in Hollywood, the eight-episode first season kicked off last Sunday. Production on additional episodes will begin later this year, with the second season to launch in 2005 on HBO.

“ENTOURAGE is already shaping up as both a critical and subscriber smash,” said Strauss. “I can’t wait to see what kind of stories creator Doug Ellin and his talented team will tell in the second season.”

From executive producer Mark Wahlberg, the new eight-episode comedy series kicked off last Sunday, July 18 (10:00-10:30 pm ET), exclusively on HBO. Wahlberg also makes a cameo appearance in the first episode of the show, which draws on the experiences of industry insiders.

The show has already sparked critical praise, with TV Guide hailing the show as “smart” and “seriously funny,” while Entertainment Weekly calls it “hilarious” and “packed firm with laughs.” The New York Times raves, “Nothing on network television is as smart, original and amusing,” adding, “The send-up of Hollywood mores and manners is merciless.”

Filmed at Hollywood locations, ENTOURAGE tells the story of Vince, a sexy young movie star whose career is just taking off. To share the fun of the ride and keep him grounded, Vince looks to Eric, Drama and Turtle, his longtime pals from Queens. Together they experience the highs and lows of life in the fast lane of Hollywood, where the stakes are higher, and the money and temptations greater, than ever before.